CCNA Certification, is it worth it?

Hi, I am currently stuck in a dead end job, which is not IT related, I studied IT in college and started the CCNA course but never finished it. I'm thinking of re-studying for the CCNA course but all the jobs i've seen advertised require x amount of years experience. Is it possible to walk into a good job once you have the CCNA certification or is it not worth it?

Regards

Sam Henderson

Reply to
Sam Henderson
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Sam, The days when a single cert can get you an interview let alone a job offer have well passed. If you really want to jump into IT, then be prepared for crap pay for a while. Take a look at the ads in local papers (assuming you are UK based given your email addr), Aldi and co are paying more for stacking shelves that helpdesk IT staff are being offered. Maybe in the long run it will be worth while, maybe not. Doing *any* course off your own back will look good on a cv though.

Dave.

Reply to
Dave

If you were in the Chicago area, I know a company that is hiring CCNAs like crazy. No experience, just the cert.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Hi Sam, I would say it's definitely worth it. If you think about it - your job is going nowhere and if you don't do anything you won't get anywhere either.

I would say any studying will look good on your CV and show potential employers you have the stamina to complete a course and also the initiative to further yourself.

I read a lot of job adverts at the moment and there are jobs where they are prepared to take you on with little or no experience. Many of them also like to see an MCSE. If you can do both now then you will double your chances of getting a better job. If not, try and do your CCNA now, start your MCSE and in your CV say you're currently doing an MCSE.

The pay may not be so great but don't let that put you off because it won't be that long until you can get a better job, or being promoted.

Reply to
Per Hansen

Sam,

Before doing anything, work out what you want to do with your life. I'm not saying plan it to the minute, but work out why your job is dead-end, where you want to go and - the big one - what do you enjoy doing?

If you like "making money" and high-pay is all you want, go into finance. If you like playing with technology and reckon that doing that for the next couple of decades sounds good, do a CCNA as your first step into the IT industry. If you are looking for one cert that will give you a good job, you're going to need a CCIE .. which will make the CCNA look like falling off a log. There *is* good money in IT, once you've got a few years of experience and have some business skills. There is no magic bullet to the the six-figure paypacket tho.

Certs are part of the cycle - certs open doors to get experience to get better jobs to get more certs to open more doors etc etc etc.

Cisco certs are an excellent start because Cisco partners need certified people to get their discounts and undersell the competition. If this suits you, get your CCNA, then your CCDA, then start looking at the "qualified specialist" certs. Get a couple of design certs under your belt, then start calling up Cisco partners and getting them your resume.

Check out

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If you stick your head down and your bum up, you should be able to do it in 3-6 months. Not a bad investment for a new career.

Matt

Reply to
yamahasw40

what company might that be? i live in the chicago area. i haven't passed the CCNA, but plan to soon.

Reply to
edibleHorse

Well, send me an email when you do.

Let's just say it is a company that is currently buying the death star.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

In Chicago ???

I'm in Springfield, and willing to travel. Consulting here is really hard due to the fact that we are no longer the state capital.

Reply to
Joe Bfstplk

Blowjobovich seems to think it is the capital.

Anyway, the job is in the NW suburbs of Chicago.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Jonathan, I've tried to contact you off list about the CCNA positions, but if you responded, they must have gotten lost in spam filters. I'm at comcast (that's a net, not a com) and my email is sqrfolkdnc.

Reply to
sqrfolkdnc

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